Eight million people below the age of 60 die each year in low- and middle- income countries from preventable causes, including unhealthy diets, alcohol consumption and physical inactivity leading to non-communicable diseases (NCDs)^.[1]Addressing the drivers of NCDs should play a central part of the next round of development goals

As world leaders meet at the 69^th United Nations General Assembly this week, Novo Nordisk announces a new company position urging Member States to ensure addressing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is prioritised and integrated into the post-2015 development agenda.

Read Novo Nordisk’s position on the post-2015 development agenda

The company believes that greater impact from existing and future development programmes, both in human and economic terms, is achievable by maintaining a focus on health. Novo Nordisk’s position presents five areas that must be prioritised in the post-2015 development agenda:

1. Health must remain at the heart of the post-2015 development framework

2. NCDs accounts for the majority of deaths and disability in the world today and must be prioritised in the health goal

3. Prevention and control of NCDs must be considered through a life-course and person-centred approach

4. Collaborative partnerships between the public sector, the private sector and civil society organisations are essential to progress

5. The interface between people, health and the environment must be addressed in the goals.

“As with climate change action, it pays to invest in health,” says Lise Kingo, executive vice president and chief of staffs, Novo Nordisk. “This applies both to better treatment and prevention. Not just for people in immediate need but also for an overall healthier society.”

As the world’s largest producer of insulin, Novo Nordisk has both a responsibility and a business interest in helping as many people as possible live a good life with diabetes.

From 21 to 26 September, together with partners, Novo Nordisk will take advantage of events around the UN General Assembly to call for action on recommendations put forth in the resolution on health in the Open Working Group’s final Sustainable Development Goals proposal agreed on at the World Health Assembly in May 2014.

Read the Open Working Group resolution on health in the post-2015 development agenda

About Novo Nordisk

Headquartered in Denmark, Novo Nordisk is a global healthcare company with more than 90 years of innovation and leadership in diabetes care. The company also has leading positions within haemophilia care, growth hormone therapy and hormone replacement therapy.

Novo Nordisk strives to conduct its activities in a financially, environmentally and socially responsible way. The strategic commitment to corporate sustainability has brought the company onto centre stage as a leading player in today’s business environment, recognised for its integrated reporting, stakeholder engagement and consistently high sustainability performance.

Read more at novonordisk.com/sustainability

Novo Nordisk

Novo Nordisk

Novo Nordisk is a global healthcare company with more than 90 years of innovation and leadership in diabetes care. The company also has leading positions within haemophilia care, growth hormone therapy and hormone replacement therapy. We believe that a healthy economy, environment and society are fundamental to long-term value creation. This is why we manage our business in accordance with the Triple Bottom Line business principle and consider the financial, environmental and social impact of our business decisions. The strategic commitment to corporate sustainability has brought the company onto centre stage as a leading player in today's business environment, recognised for its integrated reporting, stakeholder engagement and consistently high sustainability performance.

More from Novo Nordisk